AKRON, Ohio (WJW) – The Akron Zoo is investigating what led to a Komodo dragon attack at its facility.
The incident happened on March 3 in the “Komodo Kingdom employee service area,” according to a press release.
A staff member received multiple bite wounds from a Komodo dragon named Padar, the Ohio zoo said.
The zoo’s other Komodo dragon, Jasper, the smaller of the two lizards, was also hurt and is recovering, the zoo said, adding that Jasper was not involved in the staff member’s injuries.
“Safety is, and will remain, the utmost priority for our staff, visitors and animals,” the zoo press release states.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, which is working with the zoo to review the incident, said the two male Komodo dragons “unintentionally entered the same cage and attacked each other.”
OSHA said the employee tried to intervene and was hurt by the larger lizard. The employee was quickly given first aid.
“Our chief concern is for our valued team member, who is currently recovering at home. We will update as more information is available, consistent with privacy requirements and Federal law. We also want to honor our employee’s privacy, so we are providing no other details at this time,” a press release states.
In an update, the zoo said OSHA found no employer violations of safety standards.
OSHA said in a statement: “OSHA initiated an investigation into the incident and evaluated the zoo’s written procedures, training program, and personal protective equipment requirements related to the care of Komodo Dragons. OSHA did not identify any deficiencies in the information provided by the Akron Zoo.”
It added, “The zoo was responsive to OSHA’s inquiry into this incident and has planned extensive follow-up training for affected employees.”
The Akron Zoo has two Komodo dragons, both males, according to its website. Padar was born on Aug. 6, 2011, and Jasper was born on Aug. 4, 2019.
Komodo dragons, the largest lizards in the world, are solitary creatures. When it announced the addition of Jasper, the zoo noted that the two males would be in the habitat separately.
“They’re extremely intelligent. They live in a very localized niche in Indonesia and some of the islands, where they’re protected. They can get pretty big, they can get 10 foot, 150 plus pounds and they are a predator,” an Akron area exotic animal veterinarian told Nexstar’s WJW.
According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, larger Komodos are known to “cannibalize young ones.” The National Zoo said, “They spend much of the first few years living in trees, where larger Komodo dragons cannot reach them.”
The National Zoo also said a Komodo dragon attack can be fatal to humans.
They use sharp, curved teeth and claws to slash and tear at their prey and can cause wounds to become septic from venom and bacteria.
Komodo dragons can reach up to 10 feet in length and can weigh up to 300 pounds.
On Tuesday, Padar was out for the public to see in the zoo’s the Komodo Kingdom.